QUESTION 6.docx

QUESTION #6:

1 – sheet 4 of 12 shows that all handicap parking stalls have 5 foot wide access aisles but ADA requires an 8’ wide van access aisle if there is only one handicap parking stall in a specific parking area. Are we to install per plan or to ADA compliance 8’ wide access aisles?

2 – sheets 7, 8, and 9 of 12 shows stair cases none have the ADA required handrails, all show open tread risers (not allowed by ADA), and all show that tread rise is 7.5” versus ADA 7” max. Are we to install per plan or ADA requirements?

RESPONSE #6:

1 - The accessible parking stalls shall have 5-ft wide aisles. Refer to the revised drawings and install per plan. For more information and rationale on parking stalls, refer to the rationale by our forest landscape architect and accessibility coordinator.* 2 - All stair tread risers and other details for the staircases (including handrails, face boards for risers, posts, landings) have been modified to reflect changes in riser height from 7.5-inches to 6.5-inches. Refer to the revised drawings and install per plan.

*Rationale by our landscape architect and accessibility coordinator:

The U.S. Forest Service has developed accessibility guidelines to provide guidance for the agency to maximize accessibility while at the same time recognizing and protecting the unique characteristics of the natural setting of outdoor recreation areas and hiker/pedestrian trails. These guidelines apply to new or reconstructed areas within the National Forest System.

· Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines (FSORAG)

· Forest Service Trails Accessibility Guidelines (FSTAG)

These guidelines only address campground/spur parking, but they do not address general parking because the conditions for general parking that apply for the Forest Service are the same as ABA parking guidelines. Because we are a Federal Agency we are governed by ABA Standards and not ADA. And for these standards we use:

· Americans with Disabilities Act and Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Guidelines (July 23,2004).

Per these guidelines this is what applies to van parking spaces relative to Switzers:

F208.2.4 Van Parking Spaces. For every six or fraction of six parking spaces required by F208.2 to comply with 502, at least one shall be a van parking space complying with 502.

502 Parking Spaces

502.1 General. Car and van parking spaces shall comply with 502. Where parking spaces are marked with lines, width measurements of parking spaces and access aisles shall be made from the centerline of the markings.

EXCEPTION: Where parking spaces or access aisles are not adjacent to another parking space or access aisle, measurements shall be permitted to include the full width of the line defining the parking space or access aisle.

502.2 Vehicle Spaces. Car parking spaces shall be 96 inches (2440 mm) wide minimum and van parking spaces shall be 132 inches (3350 mm) wide minimum, shall be marked to define the width, and shall have an adjacent access aisle complying with 502.3.

502.3 Access Aisle. Access aisles serving parking spaces shall comply with 502.3. Access aisles shall adjoin an accessible route. Two parking spaces shall be permitted to share a common access aisle.

502.3.1 Width. Access aisles serving car and van parking spaces shall be 60 inches (1525 mm) wide minimum.

502.3.2 Length. Access aisles shall extend the full length of the parking spaces they serve.

502.3.3 Marking. Access aisles shall be marked so as to discourage parking in them.

So in regards to the RFI regarding the 8' wide access aisle for individual van parking spaces when there is only one stall. The response is that we're in compliance with ABA guideline 502.3.1 which requires the width of a van access aisle to be a minimum of 5'.

I did, however, notice that some of the accessible spaces in the details were either not labeled with dimensions or as was the case in Detail 5 on Sheet 6 of 12 measured 10'-9 7/16" which is not quite the required 11". So these adjustments will be made on the updated drawings in order to be in compliance with the ABA guidelines.